Connecting device for switch-points.



R. w. SNAPP. I CONNECTING DEVICE FOR SWITCH POINTS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23. I915.

Patented June 12, 1917.

UNITED srArns PATENT BEIGE.

ROBERT W. SHAPE, OF PETERSBURG, VIRGIN-IA,-ASSIGNZOR OF ONEvHAI IE T0 CLIFFORD S. EDMUNDS, OF PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA.

CONNECTING DEVICE FOR SWITCH-POINTS;

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented P1111912; [917',

Applicationffiled October 23; 1915;; Seria-I'No. 57,543:

To all whom it may concern: 3 1 I 7 Be it known that I, RoBERr WV- SNABP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Petersburg, in the county 0t Dinwiddie and State of Virginia, have inventedcertain, new and useful Improvementsin Connecting;Devices for switchPoints; and I do hereby declare the following tov be a full, clear,.-and exact descriptionof the inventiomsuch as will enable others skilled-invtheart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The primary object of this invention is to provide av novel type-of connecting device for connecting the main throwing'rod and front-locking bar to the-points ofa switch operated by electrical or mechanical; interlocking plants, and which; connecting dev ce can be adjusted with respect to the switch points so as to compensatefor the expansionv and contraction. of, the switch-pointsin order to prevent binding of the throwing rod and; the locking bar.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connecting device for carrying out the above object, which will also serve asja reinforcement for the adjacentf switch point.

A further object of the invention is to provide a connecting; vdevice of the; type above; referred; to, which can be manufactured cheaply, which will be durable, efficient in operation-and be conveniently applied to any type ofswitch point.

Other objects will appear and be better understood from that embodiment-of'my invention of whichjthe following is the specification, reference-being vhad to the accompanying drawings forminga part thereof, in=which Figure 1 is a top plan; view of a main line and a switch therefor and showing the improved connectingdevice in operative-position-on the switch points,

Fig.7 2 is a perspective of one; of the connecting devices removed from; the switch points, 1

Fig. 3 is-an endview of the connecting: device shown in: Fig. 2,.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of connecting device.

Fig. 5 isa vertical transverse sectional view of the switch.

Referringto-the drawings in detail, the letter A designates the rails of the mam line andBthe movable switch points. Each switch point has associated therewith a connecting device, designated as an entirety by the numeral 1. The connecting devices are identical 'in construction, and a detail' clescription of one'will sufli'ce for both.

Each connecting device includesv an. elongated rectangular shaped plate 2 provided adjacent one end: witha pair o f 'elon'gated slots 3 and adjacent its oppositeend with an elongated-slot 4. The plate 2 is positioned on. the outer side of one of; the switch points adjacent the free terminal thereof, and serves to. reinforce the switch. point and! is heldiinposition; by means of: bolts 5, which extend through. the rails of the switch point and are received by the slots 3.- andt inthe adjacent plate 2, the said bolts-having their shanks threaded: to. accommodate locking nuts 6.

Each plate 2 hasextending laterally and outwardly therefroma pair of-arms 7 and 8.

The arms 7 and 8 on'each plate are of unequal length and lie in'planes one above the other. The arm. 7 is locatedat theouter end of. the plate 2 and has its outer side edge lying flush with; the adjacent outer end; of

the plate 2 and includes an obtuse angle portion 9, having-one arm' 10 connected to the plate 2, the other arm designated 11 connected to a horizontally extending portion 12-, which extends outwardly from the arm 1 1'1 and is provided adjacent its outer terminal; with an opening 1 3. The plate 2 and the angular. portion 9 of the arm- 7, are furtherconnected. by an. angularshaped flange 14 which serves to strengthen the arm 7 and reinforce the same at the point of-juncture a downwardly inclined-portion 15 and a horizontally disposed portion '16 carried by the lower-end of the portion15 and isof a length considerably greater than the length of the horizontally disposed portion-12 of the-arm 7 and, lies in the plane above theplane ofi the said horizontally disposed portion 12 and is" provided, adjacent its outer end with an opening 1.7.v The lIlGllIlBCll portion 15 of the arm 8, is connected to the plate 2 by means of an angular shaped flange horizontally disposed portion 12 of one of the arms 7 and has its outer end threaded and received by an adjustable sleeve'20, one end of which is Hat and overlies the horizontal po'r'tion12 of the arm 7 on the other plate'2. The end of the rod 19 and the flattened end of the sleeve 20'are connected to the arms 7 by pins 21. The connecting rod 19 is provided at a point intermediate of its ends with a laterally extending lug 22, to the outer terminal of which is connected a flattened end 23 of a sleeve 24 by means of a pin 25. The sleeve 24 receives one end of a locking bar 26, the opposite end of which extends beneath the rails and is provided with notches 27 for the reception of a locking element, not shown. The arms 8-8 of the plate 2-2 have connection with each other by means of a connecting bar 28, the opposite ends of which extend beneath the portions 16 ofthe arms 8 and are provided with openings which register with the openings 17 in the portions 16 for the reception of bolts 29. The bar 28 has one end extending beneath the stock rail of the switch to prevent upward movement of the switch points, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

By virtue of the fact that the portions 16 of the arms 8 lie in a plane above the portions 12- of the arms 7, the connecting rod 28 will be disposed in substantially the same horizontal'plane as the connecting rod 19. Associate'd'with' the connecting bar 28 is a bracket 30 which'is located at a point intermediate of the ends of the bar 28 and is provided with a pair of laterally extending ears 31 which carry alined threaded sleeves 32 1 for the reception of the threaded end 33 of a switch throwing rod 34 as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. By virtue of providing the plate 22 with the elongated slots 4 the plates can be moved longitudinally, in either direction, on the switch points to compensate for the expansion and contraction of the switch points and prevent binding of the bar 26 and the rod 34: and insure of the accurate throwing and locking of the switch points. In themodification shown in Fig.

' 1, the arm 8 includes asubstantially horizontal portion 35, a vertical portion 36 depending from the outer end of the portion 35, and a horizontally disposed substantially U-shaped frame 37 adapted to receive the adjacent end of the connecting bar 28 and has its sides arranged in superposed rela tion with each other and provided with alined openings 38 for the reception of a bolt, which passes through the sides of the frame 37 and through the adjacent end of the connecting rod 28. An angular shaped flange 39 extends along the horizontal portion 35 and the vertical portion 36 and has its opposite ends connected respectively to taneously moved with the connection, thereby admitting of both rods receiving the same degree of adjustment.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying draw ings, it will be seen that the connecting devlce set forth will be durable, eiiicient in use and can readilybe adjusted to compensate for the expansion and contraction of therails of the switch, so as to prevent the locking bar and the switch throwing rod from binding in their bearings.

What is claimed is: V r

1. The combination with a pair of switch points and the connecting bars for the switch points, of plates adjustably mounted on the switch points, means for holding the plates in their adjusted'position and means {pr connecting the plates to the connecting ars. I

2. The combination with a pair of switch 8 points and the connecting bars for the switch points, of plates carried by the points and each of the plates having a pair of laterally extending arms thereon, the

arms forming each pair being arranged one above the other, and means for connecting the arms to the connecting bars.

3. A connecting device of the character described, comprising an elongated arms extending outwardly from the-plate and including an inclined portion and a horizontally disposed portion, and angular shaped ribs carried by the arms and connected to the plate.

4. A connecting device of the class described'comprising an elongated plate having an elongated slot adjacent one end thereof and a pair of spaced slots adjacent the opposite end, an arm formed integral with the first mentioned end of the .plate,

- and a second arm formed integral with the plate and located between the spaced slots at the second mentioned end of the plate and spaced from the said end.-

5. A connecting device of the class described comprising a plate, laterally extending arms carried by the plate, a

U-shaped framecarried by one of the arms,

plate,

and a flange formed on the last mentioned arm and coextensive therewith and having the opposite ends thereof integrally connected, respectively to the plate and one side of the frame.

6. A connecting device of the class described comprising a plate, arms carried by the plate and extending laterally therefrom, one of the arms including an obtuse angular 10 shaped portion and a horizontally extending portion connectedto the obtuse angular portion and the other arm including a down Wardly inclined portion and a horizontally disposed portion.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature 15 Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

